Amen Thompson plays well, Houston Rockets exceed expectations

The Houston Rockets selected Armen Thompson with the fourth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, hoping that the player would become one of the key players in the team's reconstruction. The Houston Rockets' reconstruction timetable has been greatly accelerated , and Armen Thompson is also growing into the player they envisioned in June 2023.  

Armen Thompson has played a major role for the Houston Rockets, who are in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference as of January 15, a big improvement from their 19-20 record and 11th-place ranking a year ago.  

In his rookie season, Amen Thompson's performance was very impressive. He averaged 22.4 minutes per game, shot 53.6% from the field, averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. This year, Amen Thompson's performance was even better, averaging 12.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, but everyone still underestimated Amen Thompson's influence.  

Armen Thompson started only two games in the first 24 games and performed well during this period, averaging 11.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. In addition, Armen Thompson started 7 of the last 8 games and performed well during this period.  

Since the start of the game on January 5, the Houston Rockets have won four straight games, including consecutive wins over the Grizzlies, further consolidating the team's ranking in the Western Conference. Thompson has performed well on both the offensive and defensive ends, and his explosive athleticism makes it difficult for the team to deal with him.  

The Houston Rockets have exceeded expectations this season, and Armen Thompson has continued that trend, having an outstanding performance in his sophomore campaign.